Army Nurse Corps
The United States Army Nurse Corps (ANC) was a branch of the U.S. Army responsible for providing medical care and nursing services to the armed forces during World War II. At the start of the conflict, the corps had several thousand nurses, but it expanded massively to meet the growing needs associated with U.S. involvement in multiple theaters of operation.
During World War II, the ANC deployed its members to theaters of operations in Europe, the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, providing medical care in field hospitals, basic care facilities, hospital ships, and permanent hospitals located behind the front lines. Nurses were involved in treating the wounded during major campaigns, including Normandy, the Southwest Pacific, the Italian Campaign, North Africa, and the Battle of the Bulge.
The corps also participated in the operation of mobile medical units, base hospitals, and advanced treatment stations, enabling the evacuation, triage, and stabilization of the wounded before their transport to larger facilities. ANC members were also deployed on hospital ships transporting the wounded from combat zones to the United States or other Allied medical facilities.
During the conflict, the ANC helped care for tens of thousands of wounded or sick American soldiers, participating in the management of care for ground, air, and naval operations. After the war ended in 1945, the corps participated in care and rehabilitation missions in the occupation zones and contributed to the transition to repatriation and demobilization of American forces.
The United States Army Nurse Corps' service record during World War II includes participation in all major American campaigns, including Normandy, Italy, North Africa, the Ardennes, the Southwest Pacific, and the Battle of Japan, as well as general medical support to American forces throughout all theaters of operations. The Corps was employed in direct care of the wounded, in the organization and management of hospitals, and in the medical transport of troops throughout the conflict.
